miércoles, 1 de junio de 2011

Mireia's low-sugar sponge cake

The recipe is very easy, the only secret is to stir the eggs yolk with the sugar until you double the egg volume, and to beat the egg whites until stiff peaks and be careful when mix them to the yolks; you just envelope it not mix it.  
 
Here you have the proportions (in catalan) and the explanation. it is call "pa de pessic de vic" If you have any problem you can ask me. 

Drita's Fantastic Baby-friendly Birthday Cake

For the base...pasta frolla.. you can prepare it in advance and put in the freezer..
_____Ingredients____
  • 1 whole egg
  • 2 egg yolk
  • 300g  flour
  • 150 g unsalted butter, chilled and diced
  • 150 g sugar
  • vanillina(it's a powder, vanilla flavor)
  • levadura for desert
  • Zest of ½ lemon, grated
____Preparation____
A)Work all ingredients in a bowl with your hands( first all dry ingredients, flour, sugar butter and at the end add egs), smashing butter pieces with the tips of your fingers. When the dough starts coming together, transfer to a work surface, and knead for 30 seconds. Wrap dough in plastic wrap. Flatten and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven
B)Remove dough from plastic wrap, and dust with flour. Lightly dust a flat work surface with flour, and roll dough about half of it. Carefully transfer crust to a tart pan with a removable bottom. Press dough into mold, and prick bottom and sides with a fork( essentially give the form of the pan, decorating the sides). Roll the rolling pin over the top of the tart pan to remove excess dough (reserve scraps for another use). Bake  until crust is golden brown.(i put on the top beans or garbanzos so it doesn't come up)

For the cream

_____Ingredients____

  • The yolks of 3  eggs
  • 3 tablespoons  flour or 50 g
  • 100 g sugar or 2tablespoons for  each yolk
  • A vanilla bean, or lemon skin
  • 500 ml milk
____Preparation____

Boil the milk with an aroma..vanilla or lemon skin( to take of when milk is ready)
in a pan put the eggs and sugar and whist them. after mix the flour gently in order non to form lumps.
then add the milk and mix energetically over a gentle heat until it starts to thicken.
When its cool down, put in the fridge. Meantime you prepare the phase B.

you fill the tart pan with the cream and then decorate with the fruits. On the put put some gelatina, or in my case, i prepare some non industrial(better for kids) with some jam(apricot, peach, non red ones, and put in a pan on the fire with 2 spoons of water..than brush the top of the fruits with this preparation.


for the decoration
____________________-

fruit of the season(cheries, strowberries, bananas, pineapple, blakberries, raspberries ect)

I tried to be as clear as possible, but it's difficult form me, becouse in the kitchen i cook without recipes, in the sense, that the quantities sometimes u have to adjust them with the eye..If you have any question, i'm here..
see u soon

martes, 26 de abril de 2011

more for mama and papamagias than babamigas

Red Prawn and Mango Curry
Brilliant recipe thanks to Nigella, see http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/red-prawn-and-mango-curry-16
You need thai red curry paste, which i brought from london. Anyone welcome to have ours as we´re not taking it back home with us. peta xxxx Was going to paste the recipe but not sure about copywright? xx

jueves, 14 de abril de 2011

Leo's birthday cake with icing / Torta de mantequilla

Oven: 350ºF (175ºC) 35 min
Use 2 round cake tins 22 x 3 cm or one rectangular 32 x 20 x 5 cm

Beat until creamy - 1/2 cup + 2 tblsp butter

Add gradually beating with energy - 1 3/4 cups + 2 tblsp sugar

Add beating vigorously - 2 eggs (1/2 cup)

Sift together - 3 1/4 cups flour
                      3 tsp baking powder
                      1/2 tsp salt

Add alternating with the flour - 1 1/4 cups milk
(begin and end with dry ingr.)   1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Butter icing

Beat until creamy - 1/2 cup butter

Keep beating and add gradually - 4 cups confectioner's sugar

Alternate with - 6 tblsp cream or hot water (until spreadable consistency)

Flavor with - 2 tsp. vanilla

miércoles, 16 de marzo de 2011

Oatmeal Cookies

A nice, full of spice, oatmeal cookie that is easy, quick, yummy, and dairy free. Don't skip the walnuts, I think they are key to the yummyness.

1 cup unbleached or whole-wheat pastry flour

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup sugar or other sweetener

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup molasses

1 tsp. vanilla extract

11/2 cups rolled oats

1/4 cup fortified soy or rice milk

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional


Preheat oven to 350 F.

Mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in large bowl.
In separate bowl, mix sugar, oil, molasses, and vanilla until smooth. Add flour mixture, rolled oats, milk, raisins, and walnuts. Mix well.

Drop rounded tablespoonsful of cookie dough onto an oil-sprayed cookie sheet (DO OIL OR BUTTER COOKIE SHEETS!), about 2 inches apart. Bake until light brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool. Store in airtight container.

Makes 30 cookies

sábado, 5 de marzo de 2011

Creamy Cauliflower Mac

Instead of using high-fat butter and cream, Bittman makes his healthier mac and cheese with pureed cauliflower, chicken stock, and a moderate amount of cheese.

2 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
2 bay leaves
1 cauliflower, cored and cut into large pieces
8 ounces whole-wheat elbow macaroni
1/2 cup grated cheese (such as sharp cheddar, Gruyere, or Emmental, or a combination)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Salt and black pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup whole-grain bread crumbs

Heat oven to 400° F. Boil a pot of salted water.

In a saucepan, warm stock and bay leaves on medium-low heat for five minutes; turn off heat.

Cook cauliflower in boiling water for 25 minutes. Put cauliflower in a food processor.

Cook pasta in boiling water for five minutes. Drain and rinse to cool; put pasta in a greased, nine-inch square baking dish.

Process cauliflower with stock (discard bay leaves), cheese, oil, mustard, nutmeg, salt, and pepper, working in batches.

Pour sauce over pasta, toss, and spread evenly in dish. Top with Parmesan and bread crumbs. Bake 20 minutes. Serves four.

jueves, 24 de febrero de 2011

Pink Quinoa

Thank-you to my Manchester Mamamigas Sam and Leah for introducing me to this nutritious, delicious recipe!

Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
Grated or chopped beetroot (grated from a jar works well)
Olives
Feta Cheese
Other salad ingredients of your choice.

To make:
Cook the quinoa - it's easy peasy. Use one part quinoa to 2 parts water (so in this recipe 2 cups water), put in a covered pan, bring to the boil. Cook for 15 mins undisturbed then turn off the heat and leave for another 5 mins.
Mix in all the other stuff when the quinoa has cooled.
It tastes good with balsamic vinegar on it too.